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Complete Parks Playbook

Complete Parks Playbook

The Seven Elements of a Safe, Connected, and Healthy Parks System

Parks bring numerous social, environmental, and health benefits to a community. Every person in every neighborhood should be able to enjoy these benefits. Unfortunately, too many cities, counties, and neighborhoods are “park poor,” lacking adequate parks and green spaces. The residents of these places don’t have access to safe open spaces where they can play, exercise, and unwind after a long day.

Recognizing the important role parks play, many communities are now looking for ways to expand, improve, and maintain their parks systems. The Complete Parks Playbook can help jurisdictions assess a community’s parks system – the local or regional network of parks, green spaces, and open spaces – and determine areas in need of improvement as well as policy levers that can facilitate those improvements. This introductory resource can help decision makers and advocates develop a safe and accessible parks system that is integrated into a community’s built environment, hosts activities and programs, and addresses residents’ needs.